Hail The Red Raiders

Our penance is done. Didn't think Protestants on the high plains paid penance. Well we did. Why do you think we went on the losing streak. We were being forced to pay for the firing of Mike. And, Mike paid for something in the last seconds of his bowl game against Colorado State. There was a brilliant ray of light that shone in the 2013Tech/Oklahoma game. I will tell you this; that was the hardest hitting game maybe ever. Remember the TV announcer saying, "man we are playing some football in Oklahoma!!" (And that is the first time I spelled it right). Stoops tried to play, oh dumb, when the on field announcer said something like, "did you see the game? Dude."
 I suggest we buy that game and the WSU  bowl game. Raiders! God loves Coach Kingsbury and us both. P.S  to Klif:

When  in Austin assume the head phones have party line capabilities. 

The Day Johnny Carlos Almost Killed Me

The rock hard surface of the 1963 Houston Robert E Lee High School was moist and slick the afternoon that Carlos almost did me in. It was fifty years ago and I just realized how lucky I was to have survived. For all those years it had never occurred to me what might have happen. It only occurred to me how fortunate my slip on the moist ground was. The trigger to my new found awareness was a Sunday sermon on the consequences of one's own actions. My original thoughts on this subject were of how others might have been effected, a somewhat uneasy revelation. As I pondered these thoughts eventually football overtook the thoughts of girls and rock'n roll.
Funny this one play at practice popped to mind. I was on offense at wingback with our great Coach "Galloping" Gil Bartosh standing just behind me in the flat. At the snap I pulled up and Andy White fired the ball right between the numbers. I caught the pass and proceed to show Bartosh that I was a ball carrier. So far all these actions and thoughts had taken place in the blink of an eye. As the blink was completed there was Carlos coming at "Johnny Carlos up the middle" speed. Johnny was what we call a north south runner and anyone in his way would want to have their chin strap on good and tight. Today's player would need to have all four chin straps snapped otherwise he would be coming out for at least one play maybe more. Left unimpeded, Johnny, with speed and he well over 200 lbs could hit. So for all those years I thought if I had not slipped down I could have shown Bartosh why he needed to let me carry the ball. So my new found revelation was, what if I had not been aided by gravity in avoiding a possesed Carlos, I may not have remembered any of the 63 season.
I say possessed because Johnny and I split playing time at defensive end. He, I am sure did not like this arrangement any more than I did. By the way he was charging at me it is possible he had a remedity for this time splitting arrangement. Also, I was thinking this play may have been my reasoning for behaving like King Brat in the last game of the season when I was finally starting on offense, catching pass and getting to carry the ball. I confirmed this title in tha last game of the season. My mother had already given me the title King Brat when Coach Pate asked me to go in on defense. I more or less refused telling him I am playing offense and to just let Carlos play. Too bad it was the last game of the season I could have continued to tote the ball and Johnny could have weather permitting go around knocking off people's helmets off.

A Day Which Will Live in College Football Infimany

Saturday Oct. 26,2013 Norman Oklahoma, Texas Tech comes up short on the final scoreboard but loses nothing. Because the game was off the charts in excitement. For in the near future most will only remember the the game as the hardest hitting game in the twenty first century. The TV announcers were beside themselves yelling, "Man they are playing some football today in Oklahoma". If the Bell Dozer had not have played so good and Stoops not have caught Tech's secondary naping on the long fourth quarter long TD pass the Red Raiders may have beaten the Sooners at home. Beating Oklahoma at home is a lot harder than beating them in Texas. Speaking of which did the cigar smoking Longhorns have something to do with there conservative friends at Fox not telling us what channel to switch to before the interruption of the World Series. I wonder this because this happened at the exact time the Horns and Frogs were starting. If the sips did orchestrate this maddenest then the good Lord who loves the Texas Tech Red Raiders as much as any school made them pay for there misgivings. For the rains came and the Longhorn fan were stuck with Mike Tyson as filler and if that wasn't enough a commercial for women's cage fighting repeated over and over while the rain poured and poured. After the Tech game I let go of any biais of today's player not as tough as in the past. For that game on that day was as hard as hitting as ever. It matched the hits Texas's Joe Dixon and Baylor's Ronnie Bull.

St. James (Street)

Intercession from the dearly departed James Street may have helped young Case McCoy last Saturday in UT's win over the Oklahoma Sooners. Case played sneaky good much like James did in his day. Now for those who might not know the church considers all in Heaven to be Saints whether canonized or not. James was not only a good QB but a loving person. God bless Texas and James.

So you want to beat Texas?

This post is to Coach Kingsberry and any coach interested in beating UT in the game of football. If time is running out and your team drives the field and Texas is three points ahead do not kick the field goal. Should you not score or make the first down an additional three points will only end up having you lose by one. For the possibility of Texas driving the field and winning on an extra point will inspire their team and tempt the referees in helping them to a come back win. Unless you are Bama or maybe the Irish the money is going to be on Texas. The last UT/A@M and the Iowa State last night are examples of what I testify too. As we all know football is a game of emotion and a one point win in regulation is more motivating than having to play over time. This is especially true of the overweight Longhorns. Pictured below TCU great and Texas High School Hall of Fame Coach Gil Bartosh

Johnny is Innocent

For the record on this day August 6, 2013 I, Trooper Keeton, proclaim Johnny Manziel innocent of profiteering and violating any NCAA rules. My first reaction was the affair is a spin off repeat of the A&M Coach Jackie Sherrill incident. You might recall Jackie was having with way with Texas University when a conspirator claimed he had received a box of money through Jackie or his staff. Now here they come again claiming Johnny procured a box of money by selling autographs. No proof only perception. Just like the previous box of money, the program is threatened. My first inclination was Johnny would not forsake a multi-million dollar contract in the pros for a few thousand dollars. Then I heard that his parents had something to do with 1600 autographs. His momma might stick her neck out to defend her boy for sticking up for one of his black players who was receiving racial slurs. Let me say as a student of the great Mike Mischan formally of Houston St. Thomas, who explain to me that the toughest player on the team should be the QB. That means if some slick insults one of your teammates you the QB i.e. Johnny Football puts a quick stop to the slurs. Now his parents are not about to sell autographs, however if autographs were signed for church groups or children then a chink in the armor opens for destructive perception. Gig'em Ags. Sincerely Trooper Keeton class of 69 Texas Tech.

Johnny and Mike

Being a Johnny Manziel fan before it was cool to be, naturally I grabbed the Dave Campbell's 2013 Texas Football just yesterday. I can guarantee that is the first time I ever paid over $10 for a magazine. Not since the 65 issue with Donny Anderson on the cover have I felt like a kid with a new toy over procuring a copy of Texas Football. This years edition along with Manziel also has a picture of Texas Tech's new coach Kliff Kingsbury. So reading it like it was Saturday morning after a Friday Night Lights win. I read all about Johnny and Kliff while pondering if whether Johnny's appeal can off set the lack of print on the Texas Longhorns. Before I know it I am already into the High School section and now I am really tripping. While looking as to what school the 2007 buyer of my last spec house before the bust, Coach Matt Green former offensive coordinator of the Lake Travis Cavaliers, went. Did not find him but was delighted to see that Marian's favorite son Tommy Nolen was chosen coach of the year for among other things taking Lamar to state. Then to my surprise I read of the Houston Lee General's fielding a revised football program. In spite of the queer fact that I went to three different High Schools I only expected to read of one that being St. Thomas. Lee previously having given up football and Marian selling out to the Episcopals it was good to go two for three. Now I am just about ready to go up to the local school and hit on the seven man sled when with just seven pages left in the 400 page magazine does my General pride hit sprinter speed. For there in the record books is 1964 Lee General, the gutty speedster Mike McKee for having returned a punt 105 yards against Austin. Thank you Mr. Mike McKee, you made my day for putting us in the books. Oh yes let's not forget Coach Bartosh for working with Mike and giving him the opportunity to take the punt out of our own end zone. Tk